OJAI : Proposed Budget Provides for Growth

Solid growth in Ojai’s tax revenues has allowed city officials to propose increasing this year’s city budget by 12.8% to $4.4 million.

“This is the first budget in several years that provides for any significant growth,� City Manager Andrew Belknap told the council last week.

Revenue from property, sales and transient occupancy taxes is expected to reach $2.2 million by the end of June, which is a 10% increase over last year, said Cyndi Reynolds, the city’s finance officer. The city’s reserve could reach $1.4 million, or $400,000 more than expected, she said.

“It’s good news,� Mayor Nina Shelley said.

The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget for fiscal year 1990-91 on June 26.

“The whole decade of the 1980s were financially difficult times for the city,� Belknap said. “As we enter the ‘90s, the city’s fiscal position appears to be strengthening.�

The 1980s were difficult because, among other things, the city spent $1.3 million on earthquake-proofing its downtown business district, officials said.

The proposed budget includes a 4.8% cost-of-living increase for 25 city employees and enough money to hire a planning assistant and receptionist at City Hall. The budget also allows the city to install a 24-hour message service, voice mail and more phone lines to handle what officials said has been a 25% increase in calls since 1988.

More money for the teen-age recreation program, new air-conditioning for the community center, roof repairs at City Hall and a downtown traffic study are also budgeted. The Parks Department has proposed hiring another maintenance worker and spending $20,000 on a brush chipper, which shreds brush for use as mulch.